| Analysis Plan Description | Using representative cross-sectional samples from Ireland including eight waves of data collection from June 2020 (Wave 1) to January 2023 (Wave 8), starting from the first survey (March/May 2020) until the last (July/August 2023), we will explore the association between COVID-19 mental health impacts and health behaviours among Essential Workers in Ireland. The availability of surveys at multiple time points will also allow us to track how these dynamics changed over the course of the pandemic. Participants who answered “Yes” to the question “Are you an essential service worker as defined by your country (healthcare, teacher, police, cashiers, front line worker, etc.)?” will be included in the EWs group. Four items in the impacts module will be combined to produce an index of COVID-19 related mental health impacts (covering feelings of anxiety, depression, isolation & irritability) and we will focus on how physical activity, eating habits, smoking, vaping, alcohol, marijuana use, and other recreational drug use have changed since the beginning of the pandemic. Essential worker status, gender and age will be treated as social determinants, will be tested for their effects on mental health impacts and on the examined health behaviours. |
